World Cup CANADA 2026 - Stadiums

SoundTrack: Jana Fisher - "Fairy Tale"

Canada bid for 2026 World Cup?
After Qatar, there is much speculation as to who might host the 2026 World Cup.
Could Canada do it?
Well the requirements are usually these (though of course with FIFA exemptions can be made):
• There should be 8-10 cities in any bid.
• Only one city should have more than two stadiums in the bid.
• The minimum seating capacity should be 40,000 seats
Of course Canada already has a nationwide 'football' league with the CFL, though for the unaware, this is not soccer, but the Canadian version of Gridiron ...
There are currently 8 teams, a ninth arriving shortly in Ottawa, and a demand for years that the Atlantic provinces be represented in the CFL. Hosting FIFA 2026 would be a catalyst for new stadiums in areas they are needed (Calgary, Halifax, Regina). Most CFL stadiums have a capacity between 25,000 seats to 35,000 seats though are often expanded to in excess of 50,000 seats for the Grey Cup (CFL's SuperBowl).
So which stadia would be used:
Montreal Olympic stadium - 66,000 seats
an update would be getting GMP in to finally fix the retractable roof, and maybe removing the running track area and leaving a 75,000 - 80,000 seat capacity
Edmonton Commonwealth stadium - 60,000 seats
If not a new stadium, then the additional of a roof over each stand might be the major change
Vancouver BC Place Stadium - 52,500 seats
Recently updated with a retractable roof and used by the MLS Vancouver Whitecaps
Toronto Rogers Center - 52,500 seats
Winnipeg Stadium - 30,000 seats (expandable to about 44,000 seats for the Grey Cup)
proposed Regina Stadium - 35,000 seats (expandable to 50,000 seats)
new Ottawa Frank Clair stadium - 25,000 seats (expandable to 45,000 seats)
Additional Stadiums would be built in Calgary to replace the McMahon Stadium and in Halifax to be the home of an Atlantic Provinces CFL Team.
Of course a key requirement of hosting a World Cup is to have a domestic league but as with FIFA 1994 and the establishment of the MLS but this could occur after the event.
So there is the minimum 9 stadiums available of the required capacity, and if compared to Russia, only two of their proposed venues have more than 47,000 seats so a Canada World Cup would be in line with capacity requirements.